Rufus Norris has announced he will step down as director of the National Theatre when his second term ends in 2025.

In a statement he said: “It has been and remains the greatest privilege of my career to lead the National Theatre.&nbsp;

“For the past eight years I have had the honour of shaping the programme of extraordinary work that sparks imagination, brings people together and illustrates the vital role theatre can play in all our lives.&nbsp;

“The daily highlight has been to work with the peerless theatre-makers who work here, together with the incredible range of freelance artists upon whom the present and the future of the art form relies.&nbsp;

“I am enormously proud to be part of the diverse, thriving, creative hub the National Theatre is today and am fully committed to steering the course over the next two years.”

Taking up the directorship in 2015, Mr Norris became the first actor to take on the role since the theatre’s first artistic director Sir Laurence Olivier, having worked as a painter and decorator and “played in bands” in his youth.

He was also the first National Theatre boss not to have read English at Cambridge since 1973; his four immediate predecessors (Sirs) Peter Hall, Richard Eyre, Trevor Nunn and Nicholas Hytner all did.

In a statement he said the role had been the 'greatest privilege' of his career{ai:summary}<p>Rufus Norris will step down from his role as director of the National Theatre in 2025. He stated that it had been the greatest privilege of his career and that he was proud to be part of the diverse and creative hub. #culture</p>

Rufus Norris to step down as National Theatre director

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